BUFFALO, NY -- New York Islanders rookie centerman Kyle MacLean was being groomed in Bridgeport to be a shutdown forward and a top penalty killer.
Despite playing incredibly well so far through 14 games, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy hasn't played MacLean on the penalty kill much, making other changes to see if he can get his league-worst shorthanded unit clicking.
During a practice on March 4, MacLean took part on the penalty kill, alongside Bo Horvat.
The Hockey News spoke with MacLean following that skate to get his thoughts on the differences in the penalty kill between Bridgeport and the Islanders.
"It's a little different of a system," MacLean told THN. "I'm still actually trying to watch these guys do it. I'm obviously in all the meetings, but it is a little different, the way the rotation goes in the zone.
"So, I'm still watching a little bit. I'm ready if I'm called upon."
Roy has spoken rather often about his triggers on the penalty kill.
MacLean explained what Roy's been talking about.
"Down in Bridgeport, we were playing a little bit more of a push down where that seam forward is standing in the middle. The top guy is pushing down, with a little bit more pressure, passing off at the dot.
"And then up here, it's a bit more of a diamond, where the guy is not sitting in the middle as much. Your guy goes down. You don't pass them off. It's a rotation where you stand with them, rotating throughout the zone. So that's the difference. So it's a little bit of a diamond versus, I guess, a pushdown."
MacLean has only played on the penalty kill once in his 14 games with the Islanders, playing 52 seconds in their 4-0 shutout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 22.
Almost 10 days since our last chat, THN spoke with MacLean following Wednesday's practice in Buffalo to see how he's feeling about the penalty kill now.
"I'm getting there, trying to absorb as much as I can from the guys who are penalty killing," MacLean said. Of course, sitting in the meetings and stuff, I'm getting better. Guys up here are a lot better, so you have to be pretty dialed in. But yeah, I'm more comfortable, and then I'm just trying to watch as much as I can.
During the practice, MacLean asked questions, getting some insight from veteran Matt Martin.
"You can bounce anything off the vets," MacLean said. "Also, Doug [Houda] has been really good with him too."
Assistant coach Benoit Desrosiers, who came aboard Feb. 2, has also been a strong sounding board.
"Another guy that I can go to to talk to you about those two bolts run it like I said, you know, there's no fear or anything to ask any question about it."
Since Roy came aboard, the Islanders' penalty kill has been operating at 70 percent, still the worst in the NHL. But over their latest stretch, going 6-1-0 over their last seven games, the penalty kill is at 83.83 percent, killing off 10 of their 12.